Alternating-current-rectifying system.



T. A. EDISON.

ALTERNATING CURRENT RECTIFYING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13. 1912.

1 1 52,61 5. V Patented Sept. 7', 1915.

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Yam ZZZZf/Jn T. -A. EDISON. ALT-ERNATING CURRENT RECTIFYING SY STEM.

- I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13. I912. 1,152,615, v PatentedSept. 7, 1915.

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THOMAS EDISON, OFLLEWELLY'N PARK, WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TONEW JERSEY PATENT COMPANY, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A COTREOEATION OFNEW JERSEY.

ALTERNATIE'G-CURRENT-RECTIFYING SYSTEM.

Application filed June 13, 1912.

of Llewellyn Park, West Orange, Essex I county, New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements inAlternating-Current-Rectifying Systems, of which the following is adescription.

My invention relates to 'lternating current rectifying systems, amfparticularly to systems of the class in which a plurality of rectifyingcircuits connected in parallel are provided.

In some aspects my invention is an improvement in alternating currentrectifying systems, in which a pluralityof groups of rectifying devicesare connected in parallel, the rectifying devices of each group beingconnected in series. In such systems it may happen that a rectifyingdevice of one or more of the groups becomes inoperative, or that one ormore of the groups carries less thantheir share of the load, and in suchcases the remaining groups are liableto be overloaded.

The principal object of my invention is to obviate all liability to suchoverloading.

Other objects of my invention appear in the further description thereofin which reference is had to the drawings accompanying and forming partof this specification, and in which- 1 Figure 1 is a diagrammatic viewof a rectifying system embodying my invention; Fig; 2 is a diagrammaticview of a modification of a portion of the system illustrated in Fig. 1;and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view I of a simplified form of arectifying device,

such as I prefer to use in my improved system.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, at 1 and 2are shown alternating current mains connected to any suitable source ofalternating current. Across the mains 1 and 2 the primary 3 of atransformer is connected. The transformer is provided with a lurality ofsecondary windings 4, 4', 4'. no terminal of each of the secondarywindings 4, 4, 4" is connected to a common conducting lead 6. The otherterminal of each of the secondary windings 4, 4, 4" is connected to agroup of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. '7, 1915.

Serial no. 703,367.

rectifying devices, there being one such group for each of the secondarywindings. These terminals are designated 5, 5, 5", the said terminalsbelonging to the said secondary windings 4, 4, 4 respectively. The groupof rectifying devices connected to the terminal 5 of the winding 4comprises rectifying devices A, B, C and D, the group connected to theterminal 5 of the winding 4 comprises devices A, B, C and D, and thegroup connected to the terminal 5 comprises the devices A", B, C and D".Each of these rectifying devices consists of a permanent magnet 10 havinan almost closed magnetic circuit, and in the gap of the magnet aplurality of soft iron armatures 11 and 12 are mounted so as to be freeto vibrate, said armatures being pivoted at their lower ends to thepermanent magnet or to a suitable frame supporting the magnet. Each ofthe armatures is provided at its upper end with a contact, preferably ofcarbon, the contacts being adapted to cooperate-with a stationarycontact 14. The armatures 11 and 12 are surrounded by an actuating coil13. The rectifying devices of the first group are connected as follows:The actuating coils are connected in series with each other and with thesecondary winding 4 by conductor 15 leading from the terminal 5 of thesecondary winding 4 to the left haul terminal of the actuating coil ofthe rectifying device A,

conductor 16 leading from the right hand terminal of the actuating coilof the rectifying device A to the left hand terminal of the actuatingcoil of the rectifying device B, conductor 17 leading from the righthand terminal of the actuating coil of the rectify ing device B to theleft hand terminal of the actuating coil of the rectifying device C,conductor 18 leading from the right hand terminal of the actuating coilof the rectifying device C to the left hand terminal of the actuatingcoil of the rectifying device D, and conductor 19 leading from the righthand terminal of the actuating coil of the rectifying device D to acommon return conductor 20, leading to the conductor 6. In the circuitcontaining the actuating coils, as for ex ample, in the conductor 15. anadjustable condenser 7 is connected for a purpose hereinafter described.

vice A; the vibrating contacts and arma tures of rectifying device A areconnected through the'perinanent magnet 10 or the frame by a conductor22 to the stationary contact of the rectifying device B; the vibratingcontacts and armatures of the rectifying device B are connected throughthe permanent magnet or frame by a conductor 23 to the stationarycontact of the rectifying device C; the vibrating contacts and armaturesof the rectifying device C are connected through the permanent magnet orthe frame by the conductor 24 to the stationary contact of therectifying device D; the vibrating contacts and armatures of therectifying device D are connected through the magnet or the frame by aconductor25 to a conductor 26 leading to a direct current translatingdevice, such as the storage battery 27, to which uni-directional currentis to be supplied. The other terminal of the storage battery isconnected by conductor 28 and through an adjustable rheostat 29 to thecommon conducting lead 6. A second group of rectifying devices A, B, Gand D is connected to the terminal 5 of the secondary winding 4 in thesame manner as the group A, B, C, D, the primed reference charactersdesignating parts corresponding to those designated by the unprimedreference characters associated with the first group of rectifyingdevices. A third group of rectifying devices A", B", C" and D, similarto those hereinbefore described, is connected to the terminal 5 of thesecondary winding 4" in the same manner as the first group, the doubleprimed reference characters dcsig nating parts corresponding to thosedesignated by the unprimed reference characters of the first group.

It will be observed that I have described a rectifying system includingthree groups of rectifying devices, each group including four suchdevices, the actuating circuits of the devices of each group beingconnected in series with each other and with an adjust able condenserand a secondary winding of the transformer, and the rectifying circuitsof each group being connected in series with each other and with asecondary winding of the transformer, the serially connected secondarywindings and groups being connect-- ed in parallel with each other andin series with the direct current translating device.

The normal operation of the system is as follows z-Alternations ofcurrent occur simultaneously in'all of the actuating coils, making ofthe upper ends of the arinaturcs north and south poles alternately.Furthermore, when the upper ends of the arma- ,iazaeia tures are ofnortl'i polarity, the south pole of the permanent magnet associatedtherewith is strengthened and the north pole is weakened, and viceversa. The armaturcs and the contacts mounted thereon are thcrcforecaused to vibrate in synchronism. with the current to be rectified, andin the sys-- tern disclosed the rectifying circuits will be openedduring one half wave of alternating current, closed during thesucceeding half wave, and so on. Current is therefore per mitted to flowonly in one direction through the rectifying circuits of the devices,and. consequently uni-directional current is supplied to the storagebattery or other direct current translating device. Assuming that therectifying circuits are all closed and that current tends to flow fromleft to right in the secondaries l, 4-, at, current will ilow asfollows:-Froin the secondaries 4, 4c, 1" through the conductor 6,adjustable rhcostat 29, conductor 28, storage battery 27, conductor 26,then dividing into three paths, the first path being through conductor25. armatures and contacts of rectifying device D, conductor 24*,armaturcs and contacts of rectifying device C, conductor armatures andcontacts of rectifying device l3, conductor 22, armatures and contactsof rcctifying device A, and conductor 21 to the terminal 5 of thesecondary winding 4-; the second path being through conductor 25,armatures and contacts of rectifying device D. conductor 2t, armaturesand contacts of rectifying device C, conductor 23, armatures andcontacts of rectifying device B, conductor 22, armatures and contacts ofrectifying device A, and condui' 'or 21 to the terminal 5 of thesecondary winding 4; the third path being through conductor 25",armatures and contacts of the rectifying device D", conductor 24",armatures and contacts of rectifying device C, conductor 23", armaturesand contacts of rectifying device B, conductor 22", armatures andcontacts of rectifying device A, and conductor 21 to the terminal 5 ofthe secondary winding 4-". This condition of affairs continues duringone half wave of alternating current. During the succeeding half wavethe contacts of all of the rectifying devices are opened, and no currentflows through the rectifying circuits of the rectifying devices orthrough the direct current translating dcvicc. The circuits containingthe actuating coils are not interru 'ited.

instead of employing a single transformer having a plurality ofsecondary windings, i may employ a plurality of se arate sources ofalternating current operating synchronously, such as transformers, eachhaving a single secondary winding. I have illustrated such amodification in Fig. 2, in which l, 4- and 4: are the secondary Windings of separate transformers whose respective primary windings 30, 30',and 30 are connected across the alternating current mains 1 and 2. Thesecondary windings 4t, 4, and 4 each have a terminal connected to thecommon conducting lead 6, and their other terminals 5, 5', 5" areconnected to the groups of rectifying devices in the manner illustratedin Fig. 1 and heieinbefore described.

In my improved systems it will be observed that each group of rectifyingdevices is supplied with current from its own transformer winding, andthe amount of current carried by any one group of rectifying devices isindependent of the other groups. If one or more groups should carry lessthan their share of current, due to any cause, as for example. defectiveoperation of one or more rectifying devices, the remaining groups ofrectifying devices will not be overloaded.

The adjustable condensers 7, 7' and 7" in series with the actuatingcoils of the respective groups of rectifying devices are employed toadvance the phase of the current in the coils in order to compensate forthe inertia of the armatures and to cause the circuit to be broken atthe proper timesto avoid sparking. Adjustable rheostat 29 is employed toregulate the current supplied from the direct current translatingdevice.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein anddesire to protect by Letters Patent is as follows z 1. In an alternatingcurrent rectifying system, the combination of a plurality of secondarytransformer windings, and a plurality of groups of serially connectedrectifying devices, one of said groups being eonneeted to each of saidwindings, and said groups being connected to operate in parallel,substantially as described.

2. In an alternating current rectifying system, the combination of at'ansformer having a plurality of secondary windings, and a plurality ofrectifying devices, each of said windings having a rectifying deviceconnected thereto, and the rectifying devices being connected to operatein parallel, substantially as described.

3. In an alternating current rectifying system, the combination of a.transformer having a plurality ofsecondary windings, and a plurality ofgroups of serially c011- nected rectifving devices, each of saidsecondary windings having one of said groups connected thereto, and saidgroups being connected to operate in parallel, substalr 'tially asdescribed.

4. In an alternating current rectifying system, the combination of asource of alternating current, a transformer having a single primarywinding connected thereto and having a plurality of secondary windings,and a plurality of rectifying devices,

one of said rectifying devices being con nected to each of saidsecondary windings, and said rectifying devices being connected tooperate in parallel, substantially as described.

5. In an alternating current rectifying system, the combination of asource of alternating current, a transformer having a single primary,winding connected thereto and having a plurality of secondary windings,and a plurality of groups of serially connected rectifying devices, oneof said groups being connected to each of said secondary windings, andthe said groups being connected to operate in parallel, substantially asdescribed.

(5. In an alternating current rectifyingsystem, the combination of aplurality of groups of rectifying devices, each of said devices havingan actuating circuit and a rectifying circuit, the rectifying circuitsof each group being onnected in series, and a plurality of secondarytransformer windings, each of said windings being connected to thecircuits of a group of rectifying devices, substantially as described.

7. In an alternating current rectifying system, the combination of aplurality of groups of rectifying devices, each of said devices havingan actuating circuit and a rectifying circuit, the rectifying circuitsof each group being connected in series, and a transformer having aplurality of secondary windings, each of said secondary windings beingconnected to the circuits of a group of rectifying, devices,substantially as described.

8. In an alternating current rectifying system, the combination of aplurality of secondary transformer windings, a plurality of rectifyingdevices, a direct current translating device, one terminal of eachofsaid secondary windings being connected to the direct currenttranslating device and the other terminal being connected to arectifying device, substantially as described.

9. In an alternating current rectifying system, the combination of atransformer having a primary winding and a plurality of secondarywindings, a plurality of rectifying devices, and a direct currenttranslating device, one terminal of each of said secondary windingsbeing connected to the direct current translating device and the otherterminal being connected to a rectifying device. substantially asdescribed.

10. In an alternating current rectifying system, the combination of adirect current. translating device, a plurality of secondarytransfornicr windings, and a plurality of groups of rectifying devices,the rectifying devices of each group being connected in series, each ofsaid groups being connected in series with a secondary winding, and thegroups and secondary windings serially connected thereto being connectedin'parallel, and in series with the direct current translating device,suLstantiallfY as described.

11. In an alternating current rectifying system, the combination of adirect current translating device, atransformer having a primary Windingand a plurality of secondary windings, and a plurality of groups ofrectifying devices, the rectifying devices of each group being connectedin series, each of said groups being connected in series With asecondary Winding, and the groups and secondary windings seriallyconnected thereto being connected in parallel, and in series with thedirect current translating device, substantially as described.

1,152,sic

12.111 an alternating current rectifying system, the combination of aplurality of sources of alternating current operating synchronously, anda plurality of groups of serially connected rectifying devices, one ofsaid groups being connected to each of said sources, and said groupsbeing connected to operate in parallel, substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 10th day of June, 1912.

THOS. A. EDISON.

Witnesses HENRY LANAHAN, ANNA R. Kim-1M.

